SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2016 SPORTS Angers see off pitiful Monaco to retake third

PARIS: Angers inflicted a heavy 3-0 at Saint Etienne on Sunday night. Angers midfielder Saiss got to the rebound first goal cushion that they thoroughly the first hat-trick of his career but mis- defeat on second-placed Monaco yester- move, temporarily at least, above Nice and his shot flew in via the shin of Angers deserved. N’Doye’s initial shot was turned kicked straight to Yattara, who did the day to end a three-match losing streak and into the third and final Champions top-scorer N’Doye. onto the crossbar by a stunning Subasic rest with aplomb. and reignite their unlikely challenge for a League place. In a lively start to proceed- The Senegalese midfielder has had a save. Yattara hit the loose ball towards Letellier got down quickly to his right Champions League spot in France. ings at the Stade Ange Casanova, fantastic debut season in the top flight the far corner with the aid of a big deflec- to deny Fabio Coentrao as Monaco Home team Angers took an early lead Bernardo Silva wastefully chipped the and the fortuitous effort was his sixth tion, and although Subasic got across to searched for a consolation goal that when Cheikh N’Doye deflected in Romain ball straight at Angers goalkeeper league goal this term. save, the Monaco defence watched on as would not prove forthcoming. Saiss’s effort after Monaco failed to clear a Alexandre Letellier, while at the other end Monaco were wearing their training N’Doye prodded in from on the goalline. Angers are showing no sign of letting corner. N’Doye doubled the advantage Billy Ketkeophomphone had a long- shirts as all three of their kits clashed with Leonardo Jardim’s principality outfit up in the race for Europe as their rivals before half-time as Angers took utter range effort pushed wide by Danijel Angers’, but this was a very competitive started the second half with far more also keep dropping points. control, before gloss was added to the Subasic. Stephane Moulin’s side have encounter and Subasic had to be alert to intensity and attacking verve, and A very disappointing Monaco lost this scoreline in the second period by been a menace from set-pieces all season tip away powerful strikes from Pierrick Tiemoue Bakayoko drew a low save from match just when threatening to pull away Mohamed Yattara. and they took a 19th minute lead from a Capelle and N’Doye. Letellier. But the hosts made the points from the chasing pack, while Marseille Monaco stay 21 points behind cham- corner. Visiting stopper Subasic kept out But it was another scrappy goal that safe ten minutes into the second period. were held by struggling Lille at the pions elect Paris Saint Germain, who play a free header from Romain Thomas, but gave N’Doye a brace and Angers a two N’Doye had a great chance to complete Velodrome on Friday. — AFP Chadli double sends Spurs into last 16

LONDON: Nacer Chadli crowned his 100th always under control. We conceded some Tottenham Hotspur appearance with a chances, but it was a fair result.” brace as his side won 4-1 at third-tier strug- Later, Arsenal’s pursuit of a third succes- glers Colchester United in the FA Cup sive FA Cup trophy-a feat last achieved by fourth round yesterday. Blackburn Rovers between 1884 and 1886 The Belgian winger netted with a — sees them entertain second-tier Burnley. thumping drive in the 27th minute and a League Cup finalists Manchester City and 78th-minute glancing header at the Liverpool are both in action, City visiting Colchester Community Stadium, either side the Premier League’s bottom club, Aston of a deflected long-range shot from Eric Villa, and Liverpool hosting West Ham Dier. United, who have beaten them twice in the Colchester, rock bottom of League One, league this season. replied in the 80th minute when Ben Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink’s Davies put through his own goal after quest to repeat his 2009 FA Cup triumph Gavin Massey had hit the post, but Chadli with the west London club continues on immediately teed up Tom Carroll to restore Sunday when his team visit second-tier Spurs’ three-goal cushion. Milton Keynes Dons. “I think that this competition is magic. Manchester United were the first team The opponents always believe that maybe to book a place in the last 16 after win- it’s their day, that they can win,” Spurs ning 3-1 at Championship promotion- manger Mauricio Pochettino told BT Sport. chasers Derby County on Friday, with “At times we invited them a little bit to Wayne Rooney, Daley Blind and Juan believe in the possibility, but I think it was Mata scoring. —AFP Iheanacho treble spurs City in FA Cup stroll BIRMINGHAM: Manchester City starlet enough, but Sterling went sprawling to Kelechi Iheanacho hit a hat-trick as his the floor and referee Michael Jones side crushed Aston Villa 4-0 yesterday in pointed to the spot despite Villa’s LIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s English midfielder Cameron Brannagan (C) is challenged by West Ham United’s Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic (R) dur- the FA Cup fourth round, with Raheem protests. ing the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England, yesterday. — AFP Sterling also on target. The young striker showed tremen- It was only Iheanacho’s fifth start of dous confidence as he coolly sent Guzan the season, but the 19-year-old Nigerian the wrong way and passed the ball into has now found the back of the net eight the net with his left foot. Liverpool face fixture pile-up times, vindicating manager Manuel Tempers flared in the wake of the Pellegrini’s decision to leave Sergio penalty decision, with Sterling winding Aguero on the bench. up a frustrated Bacuna. The Villa full-back after Hammers stalemate City’s win kept them in contention for unwisely put his finger in the City for- glory on four fronts, with Pellegrini’s side ward’s face and both men received yel- LIVERPOOL: Jurgen Klopp faces an unwanted fix- right brushed the outside of the near post on its Obiang’s 25-yard volley flying just wide. three points below leaders Leicester City low cards. ture pile-up after Liverpool were held to a dour 0-0 way wide. Then Aaron Cresswell got down the left Payet caused Liverpool’s defence all sorts of in the Premier League and through to At the other end, Villa were finding draw by West Ham in the FA Cup fourth round at to deliver a cross that eluded both Dejan Lovren problems with another of his inswinging free-kicks the Champions League last 16 and chances hard to come by despite domi- Anfield yesterday. Reds boss Klopp picked a fairly and Steven Caulker, but an unmarked Enner early in the second half, with the ball striking League Cup final. nating possession for long periods. It inexperienced team in order to give several senior Valencia made a mess of his header, and sent the Caulker on the arm before Winston Reid’s effort players a rest, but the stand-ins were unable to find ball back from whence it came. was scrambled clear. Pellegrini also put David Silva on the took until the 43rd minute for the home a winner against opponents who lost James Brannagan, making only his fourth start for At the other end, Reid faced a penalty appeal bench, while Yaya Toure was left out of side to find the target, but Clark’s header Tomkins and Cheikhou Kouyate to first-half injuries. Liverpool, showed some neat touches, particularly against him, escaping punishment when tugging the match-day squad altogether, as both lacked power. Young midfielders Cameron Brannagan and with his set-piece deliveries. Kevin Stewart’s shirt as the young midfielder managers rested players with vital A minute later Idrissa Gueye tried his Joao Teixeira had shots beaten away by Hammers One near-post corner was met with a Benteke attempted to fashion space for a cross down the Premier League matches coming up. luck from range and City goalkeeper goalkeeper Darren Randolph, who was only play- flick that Cresswell cleared just in front of the line, left. Liverpool began to create more chances, with But Villa manager Remi Garde quickly Willy Caballero was forced to make a ing because first choice Adrian had returned home while a superb inswinging free-kick was crying out Nathaniel Clyne bending a shot into the Kop, and came to regret the wholesale changes he smothering save. to Seville to attend the birth of his first child. for a glancing header from the former Aston Villa Allen blazing over after good approach play from made in the heart of his defence, where Garde brought Okore on at half-time, Christian Benteke also failed to convert three forward, who failed to provide one. Jordon Ibe, before Teixeira’s snapshot was beaten Micah Richards and Ciaran Clark replaced sacrificing Ashley Westwood and push- second-half chances, meaning Klopp’s side must away at the near post by Randolph. Jores Okore and Joleon Lescott. ing Bacuna into midfield as the Villa man- travel to Upton Park for a replay next month. COLLISION Benteke was guilty of the worst miss, mis-con- It was a decision that may have led to ager searched for some cutting edge in Liverpool, who are still competing in four com- There was a painful early end to the evening for trolling the ball in the direction of the corner flag the first goal after just four minutes as attack. petitions, have played nine matches during West Ham full-back Tomkins, who had to be taken when Stewart’s mis-hit bobbled towards him six Villa’s marking was found wanting at a However, it was City who remained January, and now face at least seven in February. off after receiving a cut to the head in an aerial col- yards from goal. By now, West Ham were looking corner. the more threatening side. Guzan had to The last thing Klopp would have wanted was a lision with Joe Allen. As the visitors tried to make a stretched, with Randolph pushing out another Inevitably Fabian Delph, who was get down smartly and make a good save replay, but that was exactly what he got after mak- substitution, Brannagan almost scored with a terrif- Teixeira shot, then saving twice from Benteke after booed on his return to Villa Park, was after Sterling arrived at full speed to ing 10 changes to the team who secured a League ic 30-yard shot that Randolph did well to turn aside the striker had been played clear by Ibe. involved in the goal, winning the corner meet Fernandinho’s right-wing cross. Cup final showdown against Manchester City by - moments before Hammers midfielder Kouyate Hammers substitute Michail Antonio had a and then taking the set-piece himself. Villa came close to pulling one back overcoming Stoke on Tuesday. limped off to be replaced by former Everton striker penalty appeal rejected amid a goalmouth scram- His kick was flicked on by Bacary after Nicolas Otamendi clipped Jordan Only goalkeeper Simon Mignolet retained his Nikica Jelavic. ble after Mignolet had flapped at a free-kick, then Sagna and met with a powerful Ayew just outside the box. Spanish for- place and West Ham carried the greater early threat Despite the enforced double substitution, West headed against the post - although he had already as Dimitri Payet’s inswinging free-kick from the Ham finished the first half strongly, with Pedro been penalised for a push. — AFP Fernando header at the far post. ward Carles Gil curled the free-kick in Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan could not and Caballero was at full stretch to keep hold the ball and Iheanacho was on hand it out. to hook in for the opening goal. With Villa, last season’s beaten final- Japan comeback secures Matches on TV Three minutes later the goalscorer ists, pushing for a goal that would give almost turned provider after he was them some hope, they left themselves (Local Timings) released down the left flank. exposed at the back and the tie was soon Asian Under-23 title He whipped a perfect ball across for over. Gueye hit a terrible back-pass that England FA Cup Jesus Navas, who could only fire the ball found Iheanacho in acres of space and Carlisle v Everton FC 16:30 DOHA: Japan won the AFC beIN SPORTS straight at Guzan. he made no mistake as he calmly slotted Under 23 championship with a Keynes Dons v Chelsea 19:00 Iheanacho then doubled the visitors’ the ball past Guzan for his third of the thrilling victory in Doha yester- beIN SPORTS lead from the penalty spot after Leandro match. Spanish League day overturning a two goal Bacuna was penalised for nudging Two minutes later Sterling made it Real Sociedad v Real Betis 0:05 deficit to stun South Korea 3-2. Sterling in the back. four, completing Villa’s misery, as he beIN SPORTS 7 HD stabbed home from close range after The winner came in the 81st beIN SPORTS 14 HD minute from substitute Takuma beIN SPORTS 1 HD TEMPERS FLARE Guzan had saved Fernandinho’s initial Sevilla v Levante 14:00 The challenge looked innocuous effort. —AFP Asano, with a smart finish when beIN SPORTS through on the Korean goal. Valencia v Sporting Gijon 18:00 Asano had started the come- beIN SPORTS back, scoring Japan’s first in the Las Palmas v Celta de Vigo 20:15 67th minute, after they trailed 2- beIN SPORTS Real Madrid v Espanyol 22:30 0 early on in the second half. beIN SPORTS Within a minute of Asano’s Italian Calcio League first, Japan were level after Chievo Verona v Juventus 14:30 Yajima struck. It was heartbreak- beIN SPORTS Bologna v UC Sampdoria 17:00 ing for the Koreans who had tak- beIN SPORTS en the lead in the 23rd minute SSC Napoli v Empoli 17:00 thanks to a deflected shot from beIN SPORTS Kwon Chang-hoon. Udinese Calcio v Lazio 17:00 beIN SPORTS Then a brilliant turn and finish Torino v Hellas Verona 17:00 by Jin Seong-uk in the 47th beIN SPORTS minute doubled their advantage, Genoa CFC v Fiorentina 17:00 but the match proved far from beIN SPORTS AC Milan v Inter 22:45 over. beIN SPORTS Both teams qualified for the German Bundesliga Rio Olympics later this year after Wolfsburg v FC Koln 17:30 getting through to the final of beIN SPORTS Bayern Munich v Hoffenheim 19:30 the two-week long champi- beIN SPORTS onship held in Qatar. French League Iraq finished third and were DOHA: AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Caen v OGC Nice 16:00 the other team to qualify for Rio. Ebrahim Al Khalifa (R) presents Japan’s captain beIN SPORTS BIRMINGHAM: Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho, second left no. 72, scores from a Wataru Endo (L) with the trophy following the Girondins v Stade Rennes 19:00 Hosts Qatar agonisingly finished beIN SPORTS penalty against Aston Villa during the English FA Cup fourth round soccer match in fourth position, just outside AFC U23 Championship final football match between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, yes- Saint Etienne v PSG 23:00 the Olympics qualification between Japan and South Korea at Abdullah Bin beIN SPORTS terday. — AP places. —AFP Khalifa Stadium in Doha yesterday. — AFP